(ORDO NEWS) — American scientists from Florida State University found that 183 million years ago, the mass extinction of ocean fauna was due to the reduction of molybdenum in the oceans of the planet.
In their scientific work, the experts analyzed rocks from three locations in the Canadian province of Alberta, which were part of the ocean that washed the ancient supercontinent Pangea.
Molybdenum (Mo) is a redox trace metal (RSTM) that occurs in trace amounts in the oceans. When ocean waters become anoxic and sulfide, its levels in seawater become low.
But because of this, living organisms suffer, which need that microelement for the work of many enzymes.
Since the Pliensbachian, scientists have identified a significant decrease in Mo in seawater – about 41 billion tons of molybdenum.
They also found that much more carbon was buried – 244 trillion tons. For such indicators, it is necessary that 3.25% of the ocean floor be covered with euxinic – sulfide – waters.
The experts concluded that T-OAE was caused by global euxinia.
Scientists also noted that today the oceans are losing oxygen at a high rate. If this trend continues, another catastrophic reorganization of the marine ecosystem may occur in the future.
And this will happen not only because of the loss of oxygen, but also because of a significant decrease in the level of trace elements necessary for living organisms.
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